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A look at why Alfredo Aceves is still a Red Sox

It was the last time Bobby Valentine would address the Red Sox’ players, talking to his team in the Yankee Stadium visitors’ clubhouse following its season-ending loss in New York.

But before Valentine could finish, Alfredo Aceves could be seen going from teammate to teammate, shaking hands, stepping between the manager’s message and its intended targets.

This moment -- one filled with uncommon enthusiasm and unmistakable defiance -- was pure Aceves.

He is a player who has earned a good measure of respect from his teammates for his ability to answer the bell. (Remember the final stretch of the 2011 season in which he pitched four days in a row?) He is a player whose love for baseball is often infectious, whether it’s his antics in the bullpen (legos, etc.) or on-field exercises. And he is a player who might have one of the liveliest arms in the American League.

All of it has kept Aceves around, because if it weren’t for these qualities the pitcher wouldn’t still be present to answer for days like Sunday.

But the question has to be asked: how many more chances will this guy get?

It was what transpired at JetBlue Park during the Red Sox’ most recent workout that rekindled the conversation regarding Aceves’ existence a whole lot earlier than the organization had hoped.

Sure, there had been some early issues regarding trying to pry the pitcher (and wannabe hitter) out of the batting cages while minor league hitters attempted to start their days. But when Aceves started throwing 50 mph straight balls during what was supposed to be full-on live batting practice -- which was promptly followed by a talking to from pitching coach Juan Nieves and then manager John Farrell -- the eyebrows perked up once again.

"The one thing I’ll say about that is that he didn’t go through the drill as intended and we’ve addressed it," Farrell told reporters after the workout. "He’s healthy and it’s been addressed."

Farrell is going into life with Alfredo with his eyes wide open. While much had been made about Aceves’ toxic relationship with Valentine, things weren’t always smooth with the previous manager, Terry Francona, either. Francona just did a better job of keeping any conflict under wraps, with incidents like when the time the team left the pitcher behind on a trip to New York because of tardiness out of the public eye.

When the new Red Sox manager was asked on the Thanksgiving Night edition of ‘The Hot Stove Show’ about his plan for Aceves, Farrell said, “To sit down and outline expectations here, I know that’s been done in the past and I know that will be done going forward, but this is also an extremely talented pitcher who can do some unique things from a physical standpoint. I think the one thing that we’re going to hold ourselves accountable to is the way we play the game, the way we respect one another in our uniform and that we work each night as a unit. To tear anything apart or to work against that, I can tell you, goes against all that we’re trying to put together here, not only talented players but guys who are trying to play the game the right way. …

“Not knowing it first hand but seeing it and talking to others of what’s taken place, I think that the most important thing is that expectations are outlined with him, and I, for one, [need to] be very consistent with him. There are going to be some things that are non-negotiable. If certain situations arise, consequences may exist. Coming in with fresh eyes on him, being in the same uniform, I certainly want to give the benefit of the doubt to the situation, knowing that there’s some history here, but I think it’s important to be very candid and upfront here.”

Farrell appeared true to his words when dealing with Aceves Sunday. But now what?

Besides the aforementioned incidents, there was plenty of evidence why Farrell wanted to prioritize setting ground rules out of the gate. Most know about the blow-ups with Valentine, both on and off the field. But the animosity toward the skipper would manifest in other ways. For instance, there was the sight of Aceves showing up consistently just two hours before the game in the final few weeks of the ’12 season -- not even participating in the team stretch for the last game.

So, why is Aceves still around? The same reason he stuck for the final month last season. For the time being, the reward is simply worth the risks.

Despite his production, off-the-charts resiliency and well above-average stuff, multiple Major League executives told WEEI.com Sunday that Aceves wouldn't bring back much value at all in any trade. This despite a relatively affordable contract (making $2.65 million this season, with another year of arbitration eligibility left), and the ability to enter a starting rotation, or pitch in the waning moments of any tight game.

It is a big part of the reason Aceves is still here. His greatest value to the Red Sox is on the mound, pitching in their uniform.

The Sox do have options. His salary is non-guaranteed, meaning that -- if the team doesn't mind a potential grievance hearing in the absence of a settlement -- it could release him during the spring for failure to meet the citizenship clause found in all Major League Uniform Player Contracts, which states, that a player can be released without pay if he should "fail, refuse or neglect t conform his personal conduct to the standards or good citizenship and good sportsmanship or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey the Club's training rules."

But what the team has always kept in mind while weathering the occasional Aceves uneasiness is what he can mean to this team. With recent physical hiccups besetting starters Clay Buchholz and Felix Doubront, it is understood that Aceves could very well be relied on heavily to be the kind of starter that can often be hard to find.

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